Chapter 47
Finally, it was the Founding Festival party.
From early in the morning, I entrusted my body to Marina and the other maids and hurriedly prepared for the party.
I thought I had already experienced hectic party preparations, but this was on a whole different level compared to attending the princess’s tea time. I was completely overwhelmed.
“I’ve been bathing for three hours…”
Thanks to that, my skin was several times softer than usual. I wondered if people could even see it sparkling from ten meters away.
The dress I wore today wasn’t the one Roaz sent me; it was a deep navy dress I had brought from the winter mansion.
When attending a party like this, it’s normal to coordinate the dress code with your partner in advance, so there was no choice. Navy was the color my partner favored today.
“And that partner is none other than the Grand Duke.”
I stole a glance at the Grand Duke sitting across from me in the carriage and let out a wry smile inwardly.
“Attending a party holding hands so amicably with Ashinov… well, well.”
I’d live long enough to see everything.
Since Baratheon and Siseh had moved in another carriage, it was just the Grand Duke and me in this small space.
Even in the carriage heading to the royal palace, the Grand Duke sat silently as usual, flipping through documents.
It was amazing that a man so consumed by work had chosen to be my partner.
“Do you have something to say?”
Noticing my gaze fixed on him, the Grand Duke finally looked up.
“Aren’t you overexerting yourself? If you’re busy with work, you don’t have to come with me.”
Honestly, that was more convenient for me. Unlike the three brothers who had no Ashinov blood, the Grand Duke was a descendant of the ‘real’ Ashinov who had killed me, so there was a slightly awkward aspect.
“I said I’ll go because it’s fine.”
The Grand Duke put down the documents he had been reading and said as much.
“Aren’t you the one overdoing it?”
“Me?”
“Yes. I heard you suggested a deal to the mage organization.”
“You already knew? I was going to surprise you.”
“I know everything that concerns you.”
The Grand Duke’s violet eyes, filled with concern, stared straight at me.
To think he worried about me without knowing my scheme to ruin his family. Feeling a twinge of guilt, I quickly looked away, and he let out a faint sigh.
“You don’t have to overdo it.”
“I said it’s fine, so I’ll do it.”
The Grand Duke chuckled faintly as I returned his own words verbatim.
When we arrived at the royal palace and stepped out of the carriage, countless eyes fell upon me.
The Grand Duke, seemingly accustomed to such attention, walked calmly through the crowd toward the banquet hall where the party was held.
“H-Hail! Confirmation!”
The attendants guarding the entrance, intimidated by the Grand Duke’s presence, hurriedly checked our invitations and opened the banquet hall doors wide.
A flood of light poured in through the massive doors.
Shielding my eyes from the glare, I could hear pleasant music that I hadn’t noticed from outside.
The nobles who had arrived early were chatting in small groups, and simple refreshments were prepared on one side.
The atmosphere was much more relaxed than I had imagined.
“So, a noble party isn’t a big deal?”
But not long after, the interior began to stir.
Since all eyes were on the Grand Duke and me, it was obvious that the commotion was because of us.
They whispered in hushed tones, but of course, I could hear everything.
“They say she found the granddaughter in the slums.”
Hmm, not exactly slums. A bit shabby, though.
“She really is the granddaughter?”
Yes, truly. She looks so much like him there’s no denying it.
“Did he take her in out of pity, like the three heirs above?”
Those three weren’t particularly pitiful. They had talent and would have done well anywhere.
While I was mentally rebutting their whispers, the Grand Duke’s expression gradually stiffened.
As an exceptional knight, he must have heard every word.
Instead of directly confronting them, he extended his hand to me. It was an invitation to dance.
“I heard you practiced hard.”
“I didn’t want to embarrass myself.”
“That won’t happen.”
As I took his hand and moved to the center, the whispers died down.
And soon I understood what he meant by “That won’t happen.”
Wow… he dances amazingly!
Siseh was talented, but compared to the Grand Duke, she was no match.
He guided my clumsy movements naturally, maintaining elegant motion.
Despite the height difference, it never felt awkward or playful.
Hmm… this old man probably made many hearts flutter in his youth…
Although it’s proper etiquette to converse with your partner while dancing, I was already struggling just to follow his steps.
“One, two, one, two…”
Counting the beats out loud, I heard a soft chuckle above my head.
Yet when I looked up at the Grand Duke, his expression remained as impassive as ever.
Did I hear that wrong?
Just as I blinked in confusion, the music ended perfectly.
As we stepped away from the center, Siseh appeared, extending her hand.
“Next is me. Let’s see how much my disciple has improved in dancing. Is that okay, Grand Duke?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“Didn’t you notice? You were glaring from the moment I extended my hand.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Of course you weren’t.”
Siseh shrugged as if giving up and pulled my hand toward the center.
Baratheon watched silently, lips pouting.
As I moved to the center with Siseh, I asked him:
“Why is Teon acting like that?”
“We bet on who would ask to dance first. Rock-paper-scissors.”
“Siseh won?”
“Not hard. Teon always throws rock first.”
“Typical Teon.”
I etched the info ‘Teon always throws rock’ into my mind and let my body follow the newly starting music.
Though I stepped on Siseh’s feet a few times, it was a huge improvement compared to my first dance lessons.
“This is good enough for a passing grade.”
Considering it came from Siseh, that was the highest praise.
Next up was Baratheon.
Can this even be called dancing?
Unlike the fluid movements of the others, Baratheon was as stiff as a wooden block.
I, too, was no better than a block of wood.
“Teon, we must look ridiculous right now.”
“I know. But it’s embarrassing, so let’s not point it out.”
“Counting the beats out loud might help a bit.”
“Really?”
So, Baratheon and I shouted “One, two, one, two” in sync, squeaking along to the rhythm until the music ended.
It felt less like dancing and more like martial arts training.
After dancing with all three of them in succession, I was completely drained.
Being the center of attention and dancing unfamiliar steps naturally took its toll.
Meanwhile, the Grand Duke was buried among the older adults, wearing a bored expression.
Because someone who rarely appeared at parties had arrived, everyone else seemed desperate not to miss a rare opportunity to socialize with him.
I’m exhausted.
I wanted to just sit on the floor and rest.
“Here.”
Noticing my mood, Siseh quickly handed me grape juice.
“Drink this too.”
Determined not to lose, Baratheon popped a cheese tart into my mouth.
The tart melted in my mouth, and the juice tasted clean and refreshing.
So that’s why people liked parties so much.
Is it because the food is excellent?
That made sense.
Feeling a bit revitalized, I scanned the surroundings.
Many were glancing at me, but no one had the courage to approach.
Probably because of the two burdensome men clinging so closely to me.
But there were still people who needed to come closer, no matter the burden.
The mages holding the Melovin clue.
It’s about time to make a move.
Sure enough, not long after that thought, a middle-aged man dressed freely, unlike the other nobles, approached us.
His target was Siseh.
“Siseh, I wish to discreetly discuss the matter I recently received.”
Since Siseh held the title of Sage, the man’s demeanor was very respectful.
“We also came regarding that matter.”
Starting with him, the mages who had been eyeing each other quickly gathered around Siseh.
The Northern Magic Tower, Eastern Mage Association, Western Mage Union, Southern Magical Council.
Siseh, confirming that all four organizations’ representatives were present, gestured toward me with her chin.
“Then this isn’t for me, but for this one—the young Grand Duke’s lady. I’m merely a messenger.”
“Huh?”
“Young Grand Duke’s lady?”
Following Siseh’s gesture, the eyes of the onlookers fell mercilessly on me, trembling.
This… is just a child, isn’t she?
A natural reaction.
I smiled sweetly and greeted them.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Danae, Ashinov’s young Grand Duke. I hear you’re all interested in the ‘matter’ we possess?”
